Engine control, fuel property detection and determination apparatus, and method for the same

Abstract

An engine control apparatus for controlling output torque of an engine includes a target determining unit for determining a target value of an injection quantity of fuel on the basis of pressure in a cylinder of the engine. The engine control apparatus further includes an injection control unit for controlling the injection quantity at the target value in a startup injection control period in starting of the engine. The startup injection control period is between a specific startup timing and an end timing where a specific condition is satisfied.

1. A method of controlling output torque produced by combustion of fuel in a cylinder of an engine, the method comprising:
 determining a target value of the output torque on the basis of pressure in the cylinder; and 
 controlling a parameter, which relates to the output torque, at the target value in a startup injection control period in starting the engine, wherein the startup injection control period is between a specific startup timing and an end timing where a specific condition is satisfied; and 
 calculating an average value per one cylinder of the multi-cylinder engine, the average value indicating pressure in the cylinder or a parameter related to the pressure in the cylinder, 
 wherein said determining a target value determines the target value on the basis of the average value. 
 
   
   
     2. A method of controlling output torque produced by combustion of fuel in a cylinder of an engine, the method comprising:
 determining a target value of the output torque on the basis of pressure in the cylinder; and 
 controlling a parameter, which relates to the output torque, at the target value in a startup injection control period in starting the engine, wherein the startup injection control period is between a specific startup timing and an end timing where a specific condition is satisfied; and 
 acquiring a burning parameter indicating a state of combustion by converting the pressure in the cylinder, 
 wherein said determining a target value determines the target value on the basis of the converted burning parameter. 
 
   
   
     3. A method of controlling output torque produced by combustion of fuel in a cylinder of an engine, the method comprising:
 determining a target value of an injection quantity of fuel on the basis of pressure in the cylinder; and 
 controlling the injection quantity at the target value in a startup injection control period in starting of the engine, wherein the startup injection control period is between a specific startup timing and an end timing where a specific condition is satisfied, and the engine is a multi-cylinder engine having a plurality of cylinders, and 
 calculating an average value per one cylinder of the multi-cylinder engine, the average value indicating pressure in the cylinder or a parameter related to the pressure in the cylinder, 
 wherein said determining a target value determines the target value on the basis of the average value, and 
 said controlling the injection quantity controls the injection quantity at the target value. 
 
   
   
     4. The method as claimed in  claim 3 , further comprising:
 calculating a correction factor of a base target value of the injection quantity on the basis of the pressure in the cylinder, 
 wherein said determining a target value determines the target value on the basis of the correction factor, and 
 said controlling the injection quantity controls the injection quantity at the target value. 
 
   
   
     5. The method as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein said calculating a correction factor calculates the correction factor to correct the target value so as to increase the injection quantity. 
   
   
     6. The method as claimed in  claim 5 ,
 wherein said controlling the injection quantity performs the injection control to reduce an initial quantity increase value by a decrease rate so as to reduce the injection quantity in the startup injection control period, and 
 said calculating a correction factor calculates the correction factor by determining at least one of the initial quantity increase value, a timing at which the reduction of the initial quantity increase value ends, and the decrease rate. 
 
   
   
     7. The method as claimed in  claim 4 , further comprising:
 variably changing a correction period with respect to the base target value of the injection quantity on the basis of the pressure in the cylinder. 
 
   
   
     8. The method as claimed in  claim 3 , further comprising:
 determining whether said controlling the injection quantity performs the injection control based on the pressure in the cylinder on the basis of the pressure in the cylinder in a determination period before the startup injection control period. 
 
   
   
     9. A method of controlling output torque produced by combustion of fuel in a cylinder of an engine, the method comprising:
 determining a target value of an injection quantity of fuel on the basis of pressure in the cylinder; and 
 controlling the injection quantity at the target value in a startup injection control period in starting of the engine, wherein the startup injection control period is between a specific startup timing and an end timing where a specific condition is satisfied, and 
 acquiring a burning parameter indicating a state of combustion by converting the pressure in the cylinder, 
 wherein said determining a target value determines the target value on the basis of the converted burning parameter, and 
 said controlling the injection quantity controls the injection quantity at the target value. 
 
   
   
     10. The method as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the burning parameter is at least one of a timing when combustion ends, a period of combustion, a barycenter of combustion, and a timing when a heat release rate is at a peak. 
   
   
     11. An engine control apparatus for controlling output torque produced by combustion of fuel in a cylinder of an engine, the apparatus comprising:
 means for determining a target value of an injection quantity of fuel on the basis of pressure in the cylinder; and 
 means for controlling the injection quantity at the target value in a startup injection control period in starting of the engine, wherein the startup injection control period is between a specific startup timing and an end timing where a specific condition is satisfied, and the engine is a multi-cylinder engine having a plurality of cylinders, 
 means that calculates an average value per one cylinder of the multi-cylinder engine, the average value indicating pressure in the cylinder or a parameter related to the pressure in the cylinder, 
 wherein the means for determining a target value determines the target value on the basis of the average value, and 
 the means for controlling the injection quantity controls the injection quantity at the target value. 
 
   
   
     12. The engine control apparatus as claimed in  claim 11 , further comprising:
 means for calculating a correction factor of a base target value of the injection quantity on the basis of the pressure in the cylinder, 
 wherein the means for determining a target value determines the target value on the basis of the correction factor, and 
 the means for controlling the injection quantity controls the injection quantity at the target value. 
 
   
   
     13. The engine control apparatus as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the means for calculating a correction factor calculates the correction factor to correct the target value so as to increase the injection quantity. 
   
   
     14. The engine control apparatus as claimed in  claim 13 ,
 wherein the means for controlling the injection quantity performs the injection control to reduce an initial quantity increase value by a decrease rate so as to reduce the injection quantity in the startup injection control period, and 
 the means for calculating a correction factor calculates the correction factor by determining at least one of the initial quantity increase value, a timing at which the reduction of the initial quantity increase value ends, and the decrease rate. 
 
   
   
     15. The engine control apparatus as claimed in  claim 12 , further comprising:
 means for variably changing a correction period with respect to the base target value of the injection quantity on the basis of the pressure in the cylinder. 
 
   
   
     16. The engine control apparatus as claimed in  claim 11 , further comprising:
 means for determining whether the means for controlling the injection quantity performs the injection control based on the pressure in the cylinder on the basis of the pressure in the cylinder in a determination period before the startup injection control period. 
 
   
   
     17. A fuel property detection apparatus for the engine provided with the engine control apparatus according to  claim 11  and adapted to producing output torque by combustion of fuel in a cylinder, the apparatus comprising:
 means for detecting pressure in the cylinder; and 
 means for detecting a property of fuel on the basis of the pressure in the cylinder. 
 
   
   
     18. An engine control apparatus for controlling output torque produced by combustion of fuel in a cylinder of an engine, the apparatus comprising:
 means for determining a target value of the output torque on the basis of pressure in the cylinder; and 
 means for controlling a parameter, which relates to the output torque, at the target value in a startup injection control period in starting the engine, wherein the startup injection control period is between a specific startup timing and an end timing where a specific condition is satisfied; and 
 means that calculates an average value per one cylinder of the multi-cylinder engine, the average value indicating pressure in the cylinder or a parameter related to the pressure in the cylinder, 
 wherein the means for determining a target value determines the target value on the basis of the average value. 
 
   
   
     19. The engine control apparatus as claimed in  claim 18 ,
 wherein the engine is a spark-ignited engine adapted to igniting fuel by a specific ignition mode, and 
 wherein the parameter is an ignition timing. 
 
   
   
     20. A fuel property detection apparatus for the engine provided with the engine control apparatus according to  claim 18  and adapted to producing output torque by combustion of fuel in a cylinder, the apparatus comprising:
 means for detecting pressure in the cylinder; and 
 means for detecting a property of fuel on the basis of the pressure in the cylinder. 
 
   
   
     21. An engine control apparatus for controlling output torque produced by combustion of fuel in a cylinder of an engine, the apparatus comprising:
 means for determining a target value of an injection quantity of fuel on the basis of pressure in the cylinder; and 
 means for controlling the injection quantity at the target value in a startup injection control period in starting of the engine, wherein the startup injection control period is between a specific startup timing and an end timing where a specific condition is satisfied, and 
 means for acquiring a burning parameter indicating a state of combustion by converting the pressure in the cylinder, 
 wherein the means for determining a target value determines the target value on the basis of the converted burning parameter, and 
 the means for controlling the injection quantity controls the injection quantity at the target value. 
 
   
   
     22. The engine control apparatus as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the burning parameter is at least one of a timing when combustion ends, a period of combustion, a barycenter of combustion, and a timing when a heat release rate is at a peak. 
   
   
     23. The engine control apparatus as claimed in  claim 21 , further comprising:
 calculating means for calculating a correction factor of a base target value of the injection quantity on the basis of the pressure in the cylinder, 
 wherein the means for determining a target value determines the target value on the basis of the correction factor, and 
 the means for controlling the injection quantity controls the injection quantity at the target value. 
 
   
   
     24. The engine control apparatus as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein the means calculating a correction factor calculates the correction factor to correct the target value so as to increase the injection quantity. 
   
   
     25. The engine control apparatus as claimed in  claim 24 ,
 wherein the means for controlling the injection quantity performs the injection control to reduce an initial quantity increase value by a decrease rate so as to reduce the injection quantity in the startup injection control period, and 
 the means for calculating a correction factor calculates the correction factor by determining at least one of the initial quantity increase value, a timing at which the reduction of the initial quantity increase value ends, and the decrease rate. 
 
   
   
     26. The engine control apparatus as claimed in  claim 23 , further comprising:
 means for variably changing a correction period with respect to the base target value of the injection quantity on the basis of the pressure in the cylinder. 
 
   
   
     27. The engine control apparatus as claimed in  claim 21 , further comprising:
 means for determining whether the means for controlling the injection quantity performs the injection control based on the pressure in the cylinder on the basis of the pressure in the cylinder in a determination period before the startup injection control period. 
 
   
   
     28. A fuel property detection apparatus for the engine provided with the engine control apparatus according to  claim 21  and adapted to producing output torque by combustion of fuel in a cylinder, the apparatus comprising:
 means for detecting pressure in the cylinder; and 
 means for detecting a property of fuel on the basis of the pressure in the cylinder. 
 
   
   
     29. An engine control apparatus for controlling output torque produced by combustion of fuel in a cylinder of an engine, the apparatus comprising:
 means for determining a target value of the output torque on the basis of pressure in the cylinder; and 
 means for controlling a parameter, which relates to the output torque, at the target value in a startup injection control period in starting the engine, wherein the startup injection control period is between a specific startup timing and an end timing where a specific condition is satisfied; and 
 means for acquiring a burning parameter indicating a state of combustion by converting the pressure in the cylinder, 
 wherein the means for determining a target value determines the target value on the basis of the converted burning parameter. 
 
   
   
     30. The engine control apparatus as claimed in  claim 29 ,
 wherein the engine is a spark-ignited engine adapted to igniting fuel by a specific ignition mode, and 
 wherein the parameter is an ignition timing. 
 
   
   
     31. A fuel property detection apparatus for the engine provided with the engine control apparatus according to  claim 29  and adapted to producing output torque by combustion of fuel in a cylinder, the apparatus comprising:
 means for detecting pressure in the cylinder; and 
 means for detecting a property of fuel on the basis of the pressure in the cylinder.